Page 13 of Ferocious Nightmare

Five

Light poured through my window,I could feel the heat of it on my face, and birds chirping outside my window made me feel like I was in a Disney musical. Sighing, I burrowed deeper into my blankets, refusing to open my eyes. My body ached from all the work I'd been doing in the garden, and now that everything was finally planted, I was determined to sleep in this morning.

The sound of the knob turning, the door opening slowly, made my eyes shoot open. My interaction with Nero yesterday came to mind and, heart pounding, I listened without moving.

At the sound of quiet movements, I chanced a sneak peek.

It was Coulter, and he was moving quietly, as if not to disturb me. My eyebrows furrowed in confusion as I watched him from the corner of my eyes.

Had he always come and gone while I was sleeping?

He walked slowly towards the dressers, his shoulders slumped, looking more tired than I'd ever seen him.

He opened a drawer, pulling out fresh underclothes. Then he closed it, but didn't move away. Instead, he threw the clothes onto the dresser and sighed, pressing his fists to the top and tilted his head downward.

Just stood there, looking dejected.

I suddenly hated the position we were in. How we'd once been able to talk to each other, but now there was an ocean of indifference between us.

He moved again and I shut my eyes, feigning sleep as he went to the closet, then stepped into the bathroom, closing the door quietly behind him.

After a moment of waiting to make sure he wasn’t going to re-enter the room, I sat up, staring at the bathroom door. Guilt thrummed through me as I listened to the toilet flush, then the water for the shower turn on.

Would it always be like this?Pretending to hate each other? Would our stubbornness be our downfall?

I slipped from the bed, my feet hitting the soft carpet as I padded towards the bathroom door. My hand paused on the doorknob, unsure what to do next. Even though he always appeared strong and confident, I sensed the pain he hid underneath the facade.

And yet, Coulter would never admit to his tortured soul. He would never want me to think him weak. What if…what if I walked in there and he hated me even more for approaching him when he was like this?

I let the knob go, pacing back and forth, biting down on my nails, trying to decide what to do.

I stepped over to the window, staring down at my garden. He'd given me that, even though Nero had obviously been against it, and so many other things. I had my freedom, and Dante was always there to protect me. He showed that he cared by the things that he did.

And yet, ever since Rose's wedding and the agreement between us, he hadn't spoken a single word to me.

Hadn't shown up to even say hi. Not to make sure I was behaving, or even to make fun of my truck.

It was like he didn't even care anymore.

Had he changed his mind about me?Was he only marrying me to keep Rose and Bourbon safe?

Suddenly making a decision, I turned around and straightened my spine.

I wasn't going to live a life like this. Never knowing when to speak and avoiding my husband.

I marched towards the bathroom door and threw off my nightgown, striding into the bathroom in only my underwear.

Clenching my hands into fists at my side, I walked to the shower and opened the door, staring down a very naked Coulter.

His eyes widened in surprise. "Aster."

I smiled, though it was fake. "Good morning." I didn't glance down, but I could see that at least one part of him was happy to see me.

Though tell that to his face because, as soon as he got over his surprise, he narrowed his eyes at me. "What do you want?"

What did I want? I wanted things to be normal between us again.

I stepped inside the shower door, closing it behind me. Even though there were two of us in here, it was big enough that there was still plenty of room to keep a good distance between us, so I edged towards the wall, covering my breasts. "I haven't seen you in days."

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